Volunteer
CSUN is a diverse, inclusive community and encourages everyone to donate or volunteer whenever possible. CSUN with A HEART and the resources on campus bring the community together while helping Matadors succeed. Each act has a positive impact and fulfills our #1 goal, which is to support our students.
Student Volunteer Opportunities
The Basic Needs Office welcomes student volunteers! Volunteers are critical to the success of our programs and make our community a more supportive and inclusive space.
Through our volunteer opportunities, we aim to provide avenues for students to serve our community and programs while taking an active approach to creating solution-based practices. While volunteering, students can gain skills to successfully integrate their academics and interests while contributing to their professional development. Students can develop important skills for collaborating and working with others and enhance their professional experience. We truly believe that through the active practice of service, one gains as much as they give!
See below for volunteer opportunities available. Please note, commitment time frames and hours can vary by program. These are detailed below.
CalFresh Outreach and Healthy Living Programming Opportunities
CalFresh Outreach is an application assistance program that supports potentially eligible students with obtaining food aid. CSUN is one of the CSU campuses subcontracted through a cost-share grant by the Chico State Center for Healthy Communities to promote application assistance to the college student population. CalFresh Outreach application assistance is accomplished by student “Advocates” who support their peers in overcoming three hurdles to obtaining benefits: the application, the interview, and collecting verification documents.
Volunteer Advocates will assist with the following tasks depending on availability:
- Providing CalFresh Food application assistance
- Assist with drop-in hours at various campus locations
- Assist with tabling events
- Must commit to 5 hours per week plus any scheduled trainings (usually virtually via Zoom, but not always). Also, must attend additional check-in meetings as scheduled.
Requirements
- Complete all assigned trainings in a timely manner
- Ability to commit at least one full semester
- Must assist in at least 1 outreach event during the course of the semester
- Comfortable with providing customer service
- Agreeable attitude
Benefits
- Network and build relationships with other like-minded individuals
- Gain interpersonal communication skills by providing one-on-one service
- Resume builder
- Support your CSUN community
- Can qualify for service learning/community engagement requirements
CSUN CalFresh Healthy Living on College Campuses supports a healthy, active, and nourished lifestyle through direct and indirect nutrition education tailored for our college student population. We invite our campus community to participate in free workshops discussing topics such as: how to read a nutrition label, how to shop on a budget, how to build a healthy plate, and more. Follow us on social media for nutrition information, healthy recipes, and other fun extras including our new group workshops hosted on Instagram @calfreshhealthylivingatcsun. Contact CSUN CFHL via email or book a workshop online for yourself or friends at calfreshhealthylivingatcsun.youcanbook.me.
Volunteers will assist with the following tasks depending on your availability:
- Providing nutrition education according to provided curriculum
- Assist with identifying information for social media content including recipe cards, food demonstrations, and physical activity education
- Assist with tabling events
- Must commit to 4 hours per week split into 2-hour blocks plus any scheduled trainings (usually virtually via Zoom but not always). Also must attend additional check-in meetings as scheduled.
Requirements
- Complete all assigned trainings in a timely manner
- Must present at least 3 workshops and/or participate in 3 outreach events during the course of the semester
- Comfortable with providing customer service
- Agreeable attitude
Benefits
- Network and build relationships with other like-minded individuals
- Gain public speaking skills by facilitating nutritional workshops
- Resume builder
- Support your CSUN community
- Can qualify for service learning/community engagement requirements
CSUN Pop-Up Produce and Food Pantry
The Pop-Up Pantry uses a farmer’s market model to provide nutritious fruits and vegetables completely free of charge for everyone at CSUN. At each event we can see up to 350 participants. We are looking for students interested in supporting the execution of the Pop-Up Pantry under the direction of the student assistant and student lead.
Volunteers will assist with the following tasks depending on your availability:
- Setting up
- Cleaning and sorting the produce collected
- Greeting visitors during the pop-up and assisting them with produce selection
- Breakdown and clean-up
Must commit to at least one 3-hour shift on any Wednesday with a scheduled Pop-Up PLUS a 45-minute training via Zoom.
- Shifts available:
- 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
- 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Requirements:
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds repeatedly
- Must wear close-toed shoes and clothing that allows freedom of movement that won't snag
- Able to work in a fast-paced environment and follow directions
- Comfortable with providing customer service
- Agreeable attitude
Benefits:
- Can qualify for service learning/community engagement requirements
- Eligible for Matador Volunteer Service Award
The CSUN Food Pantry exists to provide emergency nourishment and basic necessities at no cost to CSUN’s students. The Food Pantry supplies food and offers food program assistance to those who are without reliable access to affordable, nutritious food. Our goal is to minimize the academic impact on our students by providing the essentials. The Food Pantry is a resource for CSUN students, faculty, and staff to help alleviate food insecurity and hunger within our campus community.
Volunteers will assist with the following tasks depending on availability:
- Build a diet-specific food bag and toiletry bag
- Weighing, sorting, and accepting donations
- Greeting and assisting visitors and distributing pre-packed bags of food
Must commit to at least one 2-hour shift on any of these days
Shifts available:
- Mondays
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Tuesdays
- 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
- Wednesdays
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- 5:00 PM - 7:00PM
- Thursdays
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
-
Requirements:
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds repeatedly
- Must wear close-toed shoes and clothing that allows freedom of movement that won't snag
- Able to work in a fast-paced environment and follow directions
- Comfortable with providing customer service
- Agreeable attitude
-
Benefits:
- Can qualify for service learning/community engagement requirements
- Eligible for Matador Volunteer Service Award
- Experience in civic engagement
- Resume builder
Staff and Faculty Volunteer Opportunities
For staff and faculty interested in volunteering with Basic Needs programs, please reach out directly to the Interim Assistant Director for Basic Needs, Maria Elizondo. Our staff contact information can be found on the About Us page.